Rep. Lamar Smith’s bill to increase the number of visas for American-educated immigrants with graduate degrees in the science, technology, engineering and medicine fields came under fire by Texas Democrats and failed to get the two-thirds majority needed to pass. …

Sen. John Cornyn thinks the U.S. immigration system needs to be reformed to allow more high-skilled workers visas that allow them to stay and work in America — but he said the system needs to respond to demand and so that foreign workers don’t compete for American jobs.

At a Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security hearing Wednesday, Cornyn joined witnesses and other Senators in asserting that the current immigration system makes it difficult for even educated foreigners U.S. working visas — compounding the shortage of workers qualified in science, technology, engineering and math fields U.S. companies face.